Granny's Chapters""

of His youth and manhood! But these things are hidden from us, and whatever legends may exist respecti

from mortality: in this, all who are born into the world follow His example, whether they will or no; but are all careful to "increase in wisdom, and in favour with God and man"? And yet this is what all may do. These words again set the Saviour before us, as an example to be diligently followed: by prayer and study

in the spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel." In silence and solitude was the wonderful son of Zac

rk appointed for each. At that time, Herod Antipas (one of the sons of Herod the Great) was tetrarch or governor of Galilee, while his

Pontius Pilate. Augustus C?sar, who was the Emperor of Rome when Jesus Christ was born, died when our Lord was about fourteen years old; and another Emper

gh office as long as he lived; but when the Romans took possession of the Holy Land, they appointed the high priest at their pleasure-often depriving one of the office, in order to bestow it upon anothe

be so, as long as Annas was alive. No doubt the more devout Jews, who wished to keep their Law, looked upon Annas as their high priest; whilst those who w

led upon all men to repent of their sins and wickedness, to leave off doing wrong, and to do such things as God commanded them to do. John also invited the people to be baptized. Baptism was a rite or ceremony in use amongst the Jews before this time, by way of admit

a Church, which should have Christ for her head. The Jews baptized persons who, according to their Law, were unclean, in order to purify them; but John called upon those, who according to the Law

irit of any commandment, must be carefully and

re, may be said to obey the letter, or exact words, of this commandment; but to obey the spirit, we must never do anything

nd then amuse themselves by jumping-they have obeyed the letter of their mother's commands, for they did not run, but they have broken the spirit-she

e meant to show them that the Messiah required men to be holy, far beyond what they then were; and great numbers of the p

by him, as "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins"; meaning that those who repented and were baptized, would have their sins forgiven and done away with, so that they would no longer be looked upon as guilty. John knew that Jesus was perfectly holy, and had no need of the baptism of repentance, so necessary for mere mortals. John had also told those who came to hi

ve, who also held the shoes till his master again required them. Thus to unfasten or bear the shoes of another, signified being his servant, ready to do any service that might be required. John therefore meant, that He who was to come after him was so greatly his superior, that he (John) was

of circumcision. He came to fulfil all righteousness, to do all that was right, and then to suffer punishment, as if He had been sinful instead of sinless. To make atonement for the sin of man, it was necessary that He Who made it, should